Systems and methods for vehicle-to-load charging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11923713-B2
Application number	US-202117161996-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2021
Priority date	Jan 29, 2021
Publication date	Mar 5, 2024
Grant date	Mar 5, 2024

Abstract

Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative apparatuses and methods for performing vehicle-to-vehicle and/or vehicle-to-load charging. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a multi-function DC power unit and an interface unit configured to perform battery recharging between a donor battery-powered device and a receiver battery-powered device. The interface unit is configured to removably receive the multi-function DC power unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a multi-function DC power unit comprising a rechargeable battery and a load; and
an interface unit configured to perform battery recharging between a donor battery-powered device and a receiver battery-powered device, the interface unit comprising an auxiliary power device port configured to receive the multi-function DC power unit;
wherein the multi-function DC power unit is further configured to be received within and receive a charge from a recharging component included in a device chosen from the donor battery-powered device and the receiver battery-powered device when removed from the auxiliary power device port of the interface unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multi-function DC power unit is further configured to be handheld.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the load of the multi-function DC power unit includes an illumination device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the interface unit includes:
a first connector configured to electrically connect to the donor battery-powered device;
a second connector configured to electrically connect to the receiver battery-powered device; and
DC-to-DC circuit components configured to connect to the first and second connectors and the multi-function DC power unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the DC-to-DC circuit components include:
a controller;
a donor communication device being configured to communicate with the donor battery-powered device via the first connector; and
a receiver communication device being configured to communicate with the receiver battery-powered device via the second connector.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the interface unit includes:
a first component configured to convert a voltage supplied by the multi-function DC power unit into an operational voltage for the controller, the donor communication device and the receiver communication device; and
a second component configured to convert the voltage supplied by the multi-function DC power unit into a pre-charge value for the DC-to-DC circuit components.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a pre-charge signal from a device chosen from the donor battery-powered device and the receiver battery-powered device via the communication devices; and
in response to receiving the pre-charge signal:
command the second component to convert the voltage supplied by the multi-function DC power unit into the pre-charge value for the DC-to-DC circuit components; and
command the first component to stop conversion of the voltage supplied by the multi-function DC power unit into the operational voltage.

8. An apparatus comprising:
a charging interface unit configured to perform battery charging between a donor battery-powered device and a receiver battery-powered device, the charging interface unit comprising an auxiliary power device port configured to receive a DC power unit comprising a rechargeable battery and a load to power the charging interface unit;
wherein the DC power unit is configured to be received within and receive a charge from a recharging component included in a device chosen from the donor battery-powered device and the receiver battery-powered device when removed from the auxiliary power device port of the charging interface unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the donor battery-powered device and the receiver battery-powered device are vehicles.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the load of the DC power unit includes an illumination device.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the interface unit includes:
a first connector configured to electrically connect to the donor battery-powered vehicle;
a second connector configured to electrically connect to the receiver battery-powered vehicle; and
DC-to-DC circuit components configured to connect to the first and second connectors and the DC power unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the DC-to-DC circuit components include:
a controller;
a donor communication device being configured to communicate with the donor battery-powered vehicle via the first connector; and
a receiver communication device being configured to communicate with the receiver battery-powered vehicle via the second connector.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:
the interface unit includes:
a first component configured to convert a voltage supplied by the DC power unit into an operational voltage for the controller, the donor communication device and the receiver communication device; and
a second component configured to convert the voltage supplied by the DC power unit into a pre-charge value for the DC-to-DC circuit components; and the controller is configured to:
receive a pre-charge signal from a vehicle chosen from the donor battery-powered vehicle and the receiver battery-powered vehicle via the communication devices; and
in response to receiving the pre-charge signal:
command the second component to convert the voltage supplied by the DC power unit into the pre-charge value for the DC-to-DC circuit components; and
command the first component to stop conversion of the voltage supplied by the DC power unit into the operational voltage.

14. A method comprising:
removing a multi-function DC power device comprising a rechargeable battery and a load from a recharging component included in a device chosen from a donor vehicle and a recipient load device;
inserting the multi-function DC power device into an auxiliary power device port of a vehicle-to-load recharging unit;
connecting the vehicle-to-load recharging unit to the donor vehicle and the recipient load device;
converting voltage from of the multi-function DC power device to an operational voltage; and
supplying the operational voltage to a controller of the vehicle-to-load recharging unit.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
in response to receiving a predefined event:
converting the voltage supplied by the multi-function DC power device into a pre-charge value;
pre-charging the DC-to-DC electronics using the pre-charge voltage; and
stop supplying the operational voltage to the controller.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving an instruction from a device chosen from the donor vehicle and the recipient load device, the instruction includes instructions to discontinue pre-charging and begin active charging.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Erikson Tyler
• Schulz Steven
• Underhill Kyle
• Hiti Silva

Classifications

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J7/90 Primary

  Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage · CPC title

• H02J2105/33

  exchanging power with road vehicles · CPC title

• H02J7/40

  characterised by the exchange of charge or discharge related data · CPC title

• H02J7/865

  Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply (H02J7/50 takes precedence) · CPC title